Design a small chopper

Shotgun · Jun 28, 2011

pitdog said:
If you want it to chop I'd go with a wide blade about 4" long and dedicate the rest of the length to the handle.

tohubohu said:
That's it. I also think the most important think is a long handle.

Not sure I understand this. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the unused portion of the handle be blade? Or are you thinking of having the ability to choke up on it for carving?

pitdog · Jun 28, 2011

Shotgun said:
Not sure I understand this. Wouldn't it make more sense to have the unused portion of the handle be blade? Or are you thinking of having the ability to choke up on it for carving?

Having the ability to choke up is one reason. Imagine having the head of an axe coming down all the way save for the last 4" of the handle.....try and imagine how that would chop compared with how a regular axe chops. For a knife to chop you want to throw as much weight toward the tip as you can.

GRIM 62 · Jun 28, 2011

If the Tops Trailmaker had a 2" longer handle it would be ideal.The BK2 is a decent chopper(short,wide,and thick),if you choke back on the handle using a lanyard.

Shotgun · Jun 28, 2011

pitdog said:
Having the ability to choke up is one reason. Imagine having the head of an axe coming down all the way save for the last 4" of the handle.....try and imagine how that would chop compared with how a regular axe chops. For a knife to chop you want to throw as much weight toward the tip as you can.

Ahh...actually I've been thinking it would be cool to do a tapered tang sort of thing. Think of the tip of the knife at 1/4" thick and then tapering to 3/16" or even 1/8" at the butt. Just one continuous taper.

SilverFoxKnows · Jun 29, 2011

I'm with jdk1 on this. The pint sized khuks are good little choppers. I've got a 12"/ 13oz siru that carries about like my old Camillus MkII. But the siru can actually chop. If I was going to design one and have it made it would be cleaveresque.

Frank

pitdog · Jun 29, 2011

I'd imagine a knife like this would chop pretty good for it's size as well~

By pitdog2010 at 2011-06-29

Shotgun · Jun 29, 2011

Yeah that's a pretty cool one. Who's the maker?

I think I may draw up some designs tonight. I was thinking a small kuk but now I'm thinking of a cleaver style. Maybe I'll draw a few versions of each and see which I like more.

pitdog · Jun 29, 2011

Shotgun said:
Yeah that's a pretty cool one. Who's the maker?

I think I may draw up some designs tonight. I was thinking a small kuk but now I'm thinking of a cleaver style. Maybe I'll draw a few versions of each and see which I like more.

Not sure who made it buddy. I think it mentioned Dave Beck but can't remember if they said it was his design or that it looked like one of his !

I think these are also Dave Beck's but I might be wrong !

By pitdog2010 at 2011-06-29

Bumppo · Jun 30, 2011

Think of a Froe, but with a full tang straight handle instead of the 90 degree offset handle. Then where the bolster would be, put a vertical hole so a handle could fit in it to convert the knife into a froe using a baton as the froe handle. If it is forged, you
could make it from one strap of metal.

Tixx · Jun 30, 2011

pitdog said:
I'd imagine a knife like this would chop pretty good for it's size as well~

By pitdog2010 at 2011-06-29

That looks nice!

facablade · Jul 1, 2011

hi as someone has said I think more important things are long handle and heavy head...........a little hachet ;-)

Shotgun · Jul 1, 2011

facablade said:
hi as someone has said I think more important things are long handle and heavy head...........a little hachet ;-)

Yeah however there is not going to be a hatchet like knife out there that will compete with my GB mini. Looking for something a little different then a hatchet.

Ravaillac · Jul 1, 2011

I've been thinking about the problem for quite some time because I wanted something lighter than your averge hatchet.

Obviously answer comes by tilting weight forward.
Good designs are:
* khukri: most weight in front bent "forward"
* parang: same except bent "backward"
* japanese "nata": nice except they are generally chisel ground and while this is ok for chopping, it isn't so good for battoning
* cleaver: same except thinner

About fine work, I think this mostly a theoretical problem: no one said you ought to carry a single blade, if you can carry a big chopper, carrying a small utility knife like mora doesn't make much difference.

About "pointy" tip: also a little useless in my opinion: the main application for this is "pigsticking" unless you are boar hunting is quite unlikely. Thicker sturdy tips might have some applications (I think nata's square tips are used for digging and/or stripping bark).

I've also always been curious about "all steel" hatchets,
like this (one on top)
http://www.zlatoust-air.ru/shop/pub.../attachments/SC/products_pictures/45f_enl.jpg

but I guess these are not popular for a reason.

All in all, parang seems the best to me (great ergonomics, very flush, non recurve, forward balanced...)

nyarlotep · Jul 1, 2011

a pint-size chopper?

seriously though, I like the KO Shaka Ulu; looks like it'd chop OK, and its niftyness makes up for the punny name.

Shotgun · Jul 1, 2011

Ravaillac said:
I've been thinking about the problem for quite some time because I wanted something lighter than your averge hatchet.

Obviously answer comes by tilting weight forward.
Good designs are:
* khukri: most weight in front bent "forward"
* parang: same except bent "backward"
* japanese "nata": nice except they are generally chisel ground and while this is ok for chopping, it isn't so good for battoning
* cleaver: same except thinner

About fine work, I think this mostly a theoretical problem: no one said you ought to carry a single blade, if you can carry a big chopper, carrying a small utility knife like mora doesn't make much difference.

About "pointy" tip: also a little useless in my opinion: the main application for this is "pigsticking" unless you are boar hunting is quite unlikely. Thicker sturdy tips might have some applications (I think nata's square tips are used for digging and/or stripping bark).

I've also always been curious about "all steel" hatchets,
like this (one on top)
http://www.zlatoust-air.ru/shop/pub.../attachments/SC/products_pictures/45f_enl.jpg

but I guess these are not popular for a reason.

All in all, parang seems the best to me (great ergonomics, very flush, non recurve, forward balanced...)

I've pretty much abondoned the "one knife" idea. The idea really appeals to my minimalist life style but I think it's just not feasable. You can make it work but I'm not into that.

nyarlotep said:
a pint-size chopper?

seriously though, I like the KO Shaka Ulu; looks like it'd chop OK, and its niftyness makes up for the punny name.

What chopper?

That Ken Onion does have me thinking about something with a beard to it. Thanks.

FortyTwoBlades · Jul 1, 2011

Although CRKT specifically states that the Shaka Ulu is NOT a chopper and shouldn't be used as one...

pitdog · Jul 2, 2011

How about this.....heck even the Hulk bought one !!!

http://www.topsknives.com/product_info.php?products_id=358&osCsid=5vo86hba8tn7tbf9ib87rgd5v4

Design a small chopper

Baryonyx walkeri